South Korean stocks closed almost flat Friday as profit-taking institutional investors offset foreign buying, analysts said. The South Korean won closed lower against the greenback. The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) edged up 1.58 points, or 0.08 percent, to 2,017.17, the highest this year. Trading volume was low at 237.6 million shares worth 3.13 trillion won (US$3.06 billion), with gainers outpacing losers 457 to 324.